Description

This route takes a line up one of the most impressive pieces of rock in the Swell. All the pitches give sustained difficulty with excellent protection. A perfect sandstone introduction for sport climbers who climb to this grade or above. All pro bolts were placed on lead from natural stances. On November 6th 2010 Bateman and Ross returned and Bateman reclimbed all the pitches without a fall. The route is left of another difficult Bateman /Folsom climb Wandering Poet. P1)Starts about 100'left of The Wandering Poet by a light gray 8'high slab of rock. Climb past 16 bolts to a hanging belay and double anchors. A superb sustained pitch. 180' 5.12a P2)Move left and climb over a small bulge and follow pro bolts up the black rock trending right to hanging belay and double anchors.80'5.11a P3)Follow a slightly rising bolted traverse left to a hanging belay below the open groove.80'5.11a. P4)Follow the crack under the overhang to enter the groove ,some cam placements plus bolts on this pitch. Up the groove to hanging belay and double anchors.80' 5.11a. P5)Climb left to another difficlt groove/crack fault that leads steeply over the headwall, then an easier 20' slab that leads to double anchors ...the summit and fine views across the desert.80'5.11+.

Descent. A single rope rap from the top anchors to the belay at the start of P5,from here a long two rope rap to the belay at the top of the first pitch ,then one two rope rap from here to the ground.

Location

The Climb is located in the Little Spotted Wolf Canyon .Drive 2 miles up a good dirt road from the I.70 interstate to a pull off and camping place/trail head on the right... just before a wash. From here walk towards the obvious canyon mouth ,walk through the canyon to the massive steep wall on the right, scramble up the talus for about 300' to the small 6' light gray slab of rock below the climb.The route starts about 100' left of another difficult Bateman/Folsom route Wandering Poet.See topo photo.

Protection

At least 16 quick draws, one each of cams from 1" to 4" ,slings,medium stopper, two 60m ropes for rappels.

Brick, If your interested in this route I could recommend some others That might be a better intro to the harder climbing on the reef. There are a few good ones not listed on MP.

Innominate has some very thin tenuous climbing on the first pitch, and the higher pitches have less than stellar rock making the whole thing a bit more of a trial than doing a few 12a sport pitches. Although, if your into that sort of thing it is a fairly steep wild line.